Swedes have a reputation for being cold types who aren't particularly keen on talking to strangers, but one of them has launched a new badge campaign which aims to show that many of his compatriots are more welcoming and willing to help newcomers than they seem.

Thomas Bergman came up with the idea for his “Hello New Swede” badges around Christmas last year, when the influx of refugees to Sweden was a particularly hot topic. Inspired by other social campaigns from years gone by, he decided to try and do something to prove that there are plenty of Swedes out there who want to help.

“At first I thought it would be good to have a way of showing you can speak different languages and could help with translations, that was the first idea,” Bergman told The Local.

“Then I thought that since this whole topic has become so difficult, you could have a symbol that shows you’re sympathetic towards people who have come here. That you’re friendly towards newcomers.”

Bergman’s hope is that the badges can also bring more positive attitudes about newcomers and refugees to the fore:

“You can easily get the impression from the media and opinion polls on the Sweden Democrats that make you think ‘is this how it is?’. I thought that with these pins that image could be changed: if you see people on the subway, or on the bus wearing one, and see lots of people supporting it, then maybe you’ll think again.”

So far the new campaign is going well. The 37-year-old sent off around 100 badges just before The Local spoke to him on Wednesday, and the orders are coming in fast.

His plan is to donate any possible profits to charity once the expenses of postage, packaging and production are covered.

“I didn’t know if it would work to be honest, if anyone would buy them, so I hadn’t even thought of what to do with the money. Now the idea is to find a relevant charity and send any profits there. It won’t be a lot of money though, it’s not a lot of kronor per badge,” he said.

“I give away a lot of the pins: to everyone I meet who wants to have one or several of them. So I’m not getting money for many of them anyway.”

As for the notion that Swedes are cold, Bergman has his own explanation for that:

“Swedes are generally maybe not the type that speaks to strangers on buses for example, but I think there are many people who are friendly once you choose to speak with them. This badge can work in that way too: as a little opening, something you can start a conversation with someone about.”

If some Swedes don't want to wear this badge, are people like the goodboy Thomas and his followers going to use it against them?

A Swedish city is considering giving jihadists returning from Syria and Iraq free housing, a driver’s license, and tax benefits to ease their reintegration, but social media users have slammed the proposal, saying it ignores the terrorists’ victims.The support for extremists was proposed by Anna Sjöstrand, a municipal coordinator against violent extremism in the city of Lund in southern Sweden.

“There may be criticism, but [I think] that you should get the same help as others who seek help from us. We can’t say that because you made a wrong choice, you have no rights to come back and live in our society,” Sjöstrand said on Swedish Sveriges Radio.

Sjöstrand’s proposal was based on a report written by author and criminologist Christoffer Carlsson, who says that it is difficult for people to abandon extremism and reintegrate into society without support.

“It’s a straight social, economic and material question. You need to be able to reintegrate into the job market, you may need to have a driving license, debt settlement and shelter,” he said.

According to Carlsson, “the risk is great that they [Islamist extremists] are unable to leave the extremist environment” without support, so “they might make an attempt and fail because they have nothing to keep them out, and there is always something to return to, namely the organization they left.”

The proposal has been eviscerated on social media, however, with users saying that Sweden is forgetting about the terrorists’ victims.

“Lund wants to help terrorists with housing, driver’s license and job, but forgets the victims,” one user wrote on Twitter, while another added: “Rapists, child murderers, terrorists. Everyone should be treated equally.”

Some users were calling for Sjöstrand’s resignation.

“Anna Sjöstrand, of course you should say ‘You have made a choice and are never welcome back,’” added @I_was_Sweden.

According to Sveriges Radio, a similar ‘welcoming’ approach is also being considered in the Swedish cities of Malmö, Borlänge, and Örebro.

Örebro was severely criticized in January after two IS terrorists – Liban Qadar, 23, and Mahamed Farah Osman, 24 – were offered internships in the municipality, but chose to return to Syria, where they were later killed in battle.

The incident has been classified as a clear failure for Thomas Gustafsson, Orebro’s head of partnership.

Research from the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) shows that at least 300 Swedish citizens had traveled to Iraq and Syria to join IS extremists as of April of this year.

Meanwhile, some 140 terrorists had already returned to Sweden as of October of this year, local media reported.

Also an April, a report appearing in the Swedish media claimed that Islamists have successfully infiltrated Sweden’s Green Party. Lars Nicander from the Swedish National Defense University said there is “a very similar effect today, in which people close to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist party, are apparently gaining large footholds in the Green Party.”

Swedes needn't worry so long as they remain in NATO.See Julian Assange is still being held under house arrest due to rape charges of Swedish courts as Sweden is fiercely loyal to NATO.The bond of need for protection will always be that strong..That loyalty will be reciprocated.So do not bother.

Llinguistically Dravidian states of India watered by non-perennial rivers and with far greater chances of famine are taxed 2 to 3 times more than other states.Yet B.J.P leaders maintain that they treat all states equally.Elections with E.V.Ms=>ample scope for tampering,so ballot papers are a must

Families in the country have been left outraged over the decision which has seen all available apartments owned by the municipal property company put aside for migrants.

Politicians in Enköpings, Sweden, this week approved a proposal allowing the step to be taken.

Those already on the waiting list will be placed behind newly arrived Syrians, Iraqis and Afghanis as most vacant apartments owned by Enköpings Housing Rentals (EHB) are earmarked for them.

Social Democratic Party councillor Helena Proos said: “We are in a tough position because there are very many people who are looking for housing, but we have an obligation to provide housing for newly arrived refugees.”

In March of this year a law requiring all municipalities accept and provide housing for migrants came into effect.

Ever since Enköping has been searching for accommodation to provide those escaping war and poverty.

Homeowners were asked to give up their properties to help the Government but the Enköpings Mail reported there was little interest in the scheme.

Previously, Enköpings, EHB was only required to offer the municipality up to five per cent of the apartments that they rent out each year.

Now, the local government will be able to claim all of them.

However, the region’s mayor told the Mail he is hopeful this will not be necessary in practice.

Left wing politician Helena Proos said there will be regular meetings between the municipality and the EHB to discuss who will move into apartments

She said: “If, for example, EHB is releasing a brand new apartment building, then it is not fair for the municipality to claim every single apartment. Something like that could negatively affect integration in Enköpings.”

Ms Proos said she understands people will be “disappointed” with the fast-tracking system.

Sweden is experiencing chronic housing shortages as a result of the country’s generous asylum and migration policies over the last decade.

A record 4,542 asylum seekers withdrew their applications and left Sweden in the first eight months of 2016 as a result of long processing times, strict new rules on family reunion, and payouts to migrants who voluntarily returned to their country of origin.

Sweden used to be one of Europe’s most popular destinations for migrants, with the number of asylum applications doubling between 2014 and 2015 to more than 160,000.

Jimi wrote:We have to be careful. Sometimes it can sound like immigrate bashing when we look at Muslim immigration problems. This does not help us attack Islam. It only contributes to Muslims playing the role of the victims. The anti Islam people should not side with anti immigrating groups. We need to focus on the message of real Islam and sharia law in the west.

We need to expose the lies of Islam for western consumption. We need to show how Islam is the source of many of the problems facing newly arrived Muslims in the west. And we need to avoid being labeled as anti immigration. We are pro people and freedom. We want the best for everyone. And we don't think Islam is the answer to any of the problems we face today. In fact in many cases Islam is the problem, not immigration.

Exsposing the danger of Islam and the sharia should be what we focus on.

A couple of items in you post I would like to comment on:1- Whatever you do to address the Islamic problem would be considered as bashing, attacking, bigot ting.... Muslims will play the game of victims whenever they DEMAND something and do not get it.2- I was called all kind of names when I quoted surahs (verses) from the Koran without any comments!!!3- With all due respect, there are contradictions in your post. When we expose the lies of Islam, they consider that attacks on Islam (se #2 above).4- YES, Islam s our #1 enemy and should be addressed honestly and directly if we to are serious about protecting our selves and secure peaceful life for our children and grandchildren. Only one way, which is not accepting any Muslim in our countries.I was called a bigot. I am proud to be a bigot when it pertains to Islam.

Another point which I tried after 9/11, WE MUST CONSIDER ISLAM NOT A RELIGION. Because it is not.

StrongLove wrote:Agreed! But I don't think thats what Ariel was getting at.

Immigration is not a bad thing. My home, Canada wouldn't exist as it is without it. Everyone here, including aborigines, came from elsewhere. One of my grandparents, one of my Great Grandparents & my Wife are all immigrants.

If this becomes about race then we are the haters instead of those who are defending against aggressors.

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."

Friedrich Nietzsche

We must always be careful that the outrage we all feel about islamic aggression not turn into hate.

I like to believe that we are civilized countries with law and order. When I immigrated to Canada I had to go through all kind of steps and required documents, English test.

To open our boarders the way we are doing it now is simply crazy. It is dangerous and unwise.

While anti-Islam and anti-Immigration are different ideas, their proponent groups will inevitably overlap because so many immigrants are Muslims. It is also true that other immigrant groups are hanging on the tails of Muslim "refugees" - some of whom aren't refugees at all.

'It's a choice between the MONSTERS and the MANIACS'Dr Julian Lewis M.P. (Chair, UK Defense Committee) on the conflict in Syria

StrongLove wrote:Agreed! But I don't think thats what Ariel was getting at.

Immigration is not a bad thing. My home, Canada wouldn't exist as it is without it. Everyone here, including aborigines, came from elsewhere. One of my grandparents, one of my Great Grandparents & my Wife are all immigrants.

If this becomes about race then we are the haters instead of those who are defending against aggressors.

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."

Friedrich Nietzsche

We must always be careful that the outrage we all feel about islamic aggression not turn into hate.

I like to believe that we are civilized countries with law and order. When I immigrated to Canada I had to go through all kind of steps and required documents, English test.

To open our boarders the way we are doing it now is simply crazy. It is dangerous and unwise.

True. Nothing wrong with immigration when it is done the right way. . Also lots of Dutch people immigrated to Canada, and I guess most of them are now good true citizen of your country. But the way it is done in Europe is not good. We have here an overflow of young African and Arabic boys who come to Europe to mess up our countries. I guess most people in Canada do not know how many people daily land in Europe. At least a couple of thousand a day.

Ariel wrote:True. Nothing wrong with immigration when it is done the right way.

And into the right countries! The wide-open spaces of immigrant-welcoming countries like Canada, Australia and the USA are very different from jam-packed England and The Netherlands. However even in Canada, Australia and the USA people are beginning to wonder if they've invite cuckoos into their nests.

'It's a choice between the MONSTERS and the MANIACS'Dr Julian Lewis M.P. (Chair, UK Defense Committee) on the conflict in Syria

Towns across Sweden have banned Christmas street lights in the name of “security,” but the real reason is almost certainly because the country has completely capitulated to Islam after importing countless Muslim migrants over the last two years.

Authorities claim it's for "security" reasons

Swedes are being asked to believe that lights normally held up by tree branches are now too weighty to be supported by metal poles.Despite there being no safety issue with the street lights for decades, this new rule has been instituted right after record numbers of Muslim migrants flooded into the country – just a coincidence I’m sure.

Unlike previous years, there will be no Christmas lights in many Swedish towns this Christmas, reports SVT. Formally the new ban is because of "security reasons".

The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) will stop allowing municipalities to put up their Christmas lights on light poles that the authority manages, and in many small towns, it means that the central streets actually do not get any Christmas lights at all.

The change is a victory for those who want to tone down the reminder of the country's Christian traditions, but according to the Swedish Transport Administration, the decision for the drastic change is "security".

- Poles are not designed for the weight of Christmas lights, and we have to remove anything that should not be there. We guarantee safety first, says Eilin Isaksson, national coordinator at the Swedish Transport Administration, to SVT.

How many poles that have fallen down in previous years because of the Christmas lights is not clear. It is clear, however, that municipalities have difficulty understanding the Swedish Transport Administration's priorities.

- In our municipality we have problems with wildlife and fences, that people are dying because of animals running on the roads. We think this is a more important issue for the Swedish Transport Administration to handle than to turn off our Christmas lights, says mayor in Lititz, Marie Johansson, to SVT.

"It's a level we've never seen before," said the Moderates' migration policy spokesperson Johan Forssell when he told Aftonbladet that over 300,000 cases of family reunifications are expected by 2019. The record figures come from the Migration Board's forecast, according to Aftonbladet.

The huge migration wave last year could be repeated and almost doubled when over 300,000 family members are expected to arrive up to the year 2019.

When Aftonbladet talks with Johan Forssell, he says it is a large volume to handle.

- It's a level we've never seen before. Until 2019, it is about 317,000 cases. This will have a major impact on the issues of housing, jobs, schools, health care. It underlines that we need to have long-term and sustainable immigration policies, says Forsell.

Calls for new permanent legislation

The period Forsell refers to, is the years 2016 through 2019. But according to the Migration Board's forecast, it extends to 2020 and a further 57,000 migrants are expected, giving a total of 374,000 (for now). But it is the time after 2019 that is interesting, until then the new temporary rules that make it harder for family reunifications apply.

But after 2019, those who have been rejected may re-apply for a residence permit, and then with much more generous rules, which increases the chances of getting to stay in the country. It is for this reason that Forsell calls for a permanent law.

- When the temporary law expires, we need a new legislation at a sustainable level. But we get no response from the government, says Johan Forssell to Aftonbladet.

SD: "An intolerable situation"

Also the Sweden Democrats party, which in most opinion polls looks to challenge the Conservatives for the second place in Swedish politics, is on the same page. When Nyheter Idag talks to party leader Jimmie Åkesson's political secretary, Mikael Eriksson, he calls for a tightening of the rules to handle the expected volumes.

- Although the number of asylum applications has decreased, we now see an increasing trend of family reunification. Over 300,000 new applications are expected in the coming years. This is an intolerable situation. Of course, there should be the opportunity to reunite with ones family, but these rules need to be tightened. The levels now present a risk of putting even more pressure on already strained municipalities, he told the newspaper.

Aftonbladet has also spoken with Minister of Justice and Minister for Migration, Morgan Johansson, and he believes that the Migration Board's forecast shows that the government is in control of the situation. He does not quite share the dark image that the Conservatives and the Sweden Democrats paint on the background of the Migration Board's forecast.

- They count the applications, not how many people who will be granted. Traditionally a lower number of the requests are granted, he says to the newspaper.

This amateur footage from Sweden is an excellent example of the complete lack of respect Muslim Illegal immigrants have for native Swedes. The migrant confidently cuts in line of a fast food stall as he considers waiting in line with disbelieving women to be below his dignity. As he is confronted by the fist women in line, he tells her that "he urinates on people" like her.

The woman responds by saying that this is her country and if he doesn't like the rules, he should go back to his own country. The saleswoman also refuses to serve him, telling him to stand back in line like everybody else. The migrant eventually tells the women to "shut up, you f*ckng whores" before ridiculing them, laughing and leaving.

Major naughtiness in Gothenburg, where gangs of thugs have attacked police who were intending to search a home. Not real thuggee type thugs you must understand - no mention was made of Islam, or indeed the sub-continent. However, the article seems coincidentally to connect these naughty people to no-go areas and an epidemic of car-burning.

Sweden CHAOS boils over: Cars go up in flames as violent thugs attack police officersSPECIAL units in Sweden were forced to rush out to aid Gothenburg police on Thursday after a gang of thugs launched violent attacks on deployed officers.

The violent assault on the police came after they attempted to search a home in the northeastern part of the city.

It is not known why officers were ordered to the premises, however the attending officials were unable to carry out the order as the thugs turned out in force to hinder the search.

Around 50 people amassed in the streets to cause havoc as they tossed firecrackers at the police, as well as the police cars.<snip>Attacks on police in the coastal city comes as the Scandinavian country has been struggling to battle a car fire epidemic which has plagued the entire nation.

In 2016 alone, hundreds of cars have been destroyed as police struggle to combat the increasing violence and criminal activity which more than 50 areas being labelled as “no-go” zones.

Last week, three vehicles in Hallunda in southern Stockholm were engulfed by flames, while more than 70 cars have been torched in Sweden’s third largest city, Malmö, since July.

During one weekend alone, 11 cars were burned out at the time police said they believed the serial fires were “revenge” for the crackdown on organised crime in the area.

The force’s increased lack of control in the country was revealed in a report by Sweden's National Criminal Investigation Service in February, where attacks on officers were detailed, including police cars being stoned by masked groups.

It also detailed a rise in sex assaults, drug dealing and children carrying weapons.

Oddly, there's also this bit: the original police intervention and the thuggery are being treated as separate incidents. I wonder why?

As the police were deployed to search the premises, the incident will be treated as a special case, meaning the two will be investigated separately.

Fernando wrote:Oddly, there's also this bit: the original police intervention and the thuggery are being treated as separate incidents. I wonder why?

As the police were deployed to search the premises, the incident will be treated as a special case, meaning the two will be investigated separately.

I bet there are a couple of reasons why they do not intervene enough. They are afraid, and they do not want to be labeled as racists. And from several sources there are reports that staff are poorly prepared to handle violence, threats and conflicts – while there are too few security guards.

. ‘We have become completely overwhelmed,’ one policeman with over 30-years-service with Gothenburg Police told MailOnline. ‘We have given up with drug crime. We just don’t have the resources.’ Instead officers are trying to fight back the explosion of violent street crime that has erupted in recent months.

Slamming Swedes for “forcing” migrants to “wait in housing with poor conditions”, he wrote: “I am an honourable and honest man. Many refugees curse the day they came here.

“I can’t believe this is in Sweden!” the Syrian exclaimed and accused the country, which casts itself as a ‘humanitarian superpower’, of only pretending to care about human rights. “Why did you open your doors to us refugees, if you can’t help us to live a dignified, respectful and fulfilled life?” Mohammed asks.

“Do not tell me [as an excuse] that you have so many refugees in Sweden. I know that. But I do not understand why you want to kill us a second time. This waiting process is the same as killing us.”

Waiting “is the same as dying”, and it “leads to a lot of stress” and “a lot of bad feelings”, the Syrian explained. Adding that most migrants feel the same way, Mohammed begs Swedes to show care for him and his cohorts, and to see them as “human beings and not just animals or numbers”.

His fellow Syrian, Mahmoud, made a similar appeal for compassion in an interview broadcast Tuesday. “I want a house”, he told Swedish Radio, bemoaning having to live in an apartment, which he said hampered his chances of finding a girlfriend.

Presenter Katarina Gunnarsson notes that the Syrian’s room, paid for by taxpayers “looks like a hotel room”, but Mahmoud said he had higher expectations of life in Sweden.

“I had very high hopes of getting my own private house. And then they give me this apartment. It’s like a refugee camp. What is the difference?” the former Damascus resident complained.

“I’m 25 years old and have not had a girlfriend before. I’m still a virgin. I’m looking for a girlfriend, I’m looking for a wife. But this is impossible, how can I be able to have a life in this room?” he added.

Gunnarsson reminded Mahmoud that many young Swedes would be jealous of him being given an apartment in Stockholm, as the country is gripped in an unprecedented housing crisis.

“I came to Sweden and had high hopes of creating a life here. But after living here for a year and eight months, I started to lose hope,” he responded.

Migrants living in the same Norrtälje apartment block as Mahmoud protested against the newly built modular housing in August. Almost half the building’s residents joined the demonstration, in which they marched to the social services department.

According to staff at the department, protesters felt “misled” over the accommodation as they had expected to be given their own permanent apartments rather than sharing a kitchen with other migrants. According to their spokesmen, the disappointment left some of the migrants experiencing depression and even suicidal thoughts.

This amateur footage from Sweden is an excellent example of the complete lack of respect Muslim Illegal immigrants have for native Swedes. The migrant confidently cuts in line of a fast food stall as he considers waiting in line with disbelieving women to be below his dignity. As he is confronted by the fist women in line, he tells her that "he urinates on people" like her.

The woman responds by saying that this is her country and if he doesn't like the rules, he should go back to his own country. The saleswoman also refuses to serve him, telling him to stand back in line like everybody else. The migrant eventually tells the women to "shut up, you f*ckng whores" before ridiculing them, laughing and leaving.

Well my father too says the same thing about muslims that they just want to cut in the line for the doctor consultation at the CGHS facility irrespective of when they have arrived.He says that it shows their utter lack of respect for the established norms and prioritising themselves before everyone else.I do not understand why just sexual aspect of morality is considered supreme and not others.

Llinguistically Dravidian states of India watered by non-perennial rivers and with far greater chances of famine are taxed 2 to 3 times more than other states.Yet B.J.P leaders maintain that they treat all states equally.Elections with E.V.Ms=>ample scope for tampering,so ballot papers are a must

Marco Polo on his visit to south India about 1293 noted that climate and ignorant treatment did not allow horses to thrive there. .He admired Kakatiya queen Rudramba, who ruled for nearly forty years. He noted the Hindus' strict enforcement of justice against criminals and abstention from wine, but he was surprised they did not consider any form of sexual indulgence a sin. He found certain merchants most truthful but noted many superstitious beliefs. Yet he found that ascetics, who ate no meat, drank no wine, had no sex outside of marriage, did not steal, and never killed any creature, often lived very long lives

Perhaps that was the main fault of Hindus of those days which Muslims found as a reason sufficient enough for conquest.

Llinguistically Dravidian states of India watered by non-perennial rivers and with far greater chances of famine are taxed 2 to 3 times more than other states.Yet B.J.P leaders maintain that they treat all states equally.Elections with E.V.Ms=>ample scope for tampering,so ballot papers are a must